I paid $400 to improve to KLM premium economic system on an 11-hour flight — was it price it?

I needed to journey to South Africa for a piece convention in October, and I used to be dreading the considered spending 22 hours in economic system to get there.

The final time I flew such a protracted distance in coach was three years prior once I hopped aboard Qantas for the 17-hour trek from Dallas to Sydney. The one good factor I remembered in regards to the expertise was the Tim Tams.

Fortunately, on this latest journey, I solely ended up flying in economic system for the primary leg and was capable of improve to premium economic system for the second section. I paid just below $400 for the improve — and I made about half of that quantity again since there was a problem with my seat, and the airline issued me a credit score by the use of apology.

Here is my recommendation on whether or not it is price upgrading to premium economic system in your subsequent flight and the way the expertise was for me.

The value distinction between KLM economic system and premium economic system

Six weeks earlier than departure, I paid $1,722 for a one-way economic system ticket on KLM from San Francisco Worldwide Airport (SFO) to Cape City Worldwide Airport (CPT) with a connection by way of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS). That was a excessive worth, nevertheless it was akin to what different carriers had been charging on the route. Plus, I did not have a lot date flexibility.

Trying on the worth of this flight on Google Flights over the following yr, one-way economic system tickets begin at $1,160, whereas premium economic system tickets are virtually double that at $2,010.

When on-line check-in opened 24 hours earlier than departure, no enterprise class or premium economic system upgrades had been out there on the 10-hour flight from San Francisco to Amsterdam. I used to be bummed about this, as I wished to maximise sleep on the in a single day flight.

Nonetheless, I obtained a suggestion to improve to premium economic system on the 11-hour flight from Amsterdam to Cape City for $382, so I took benefit of it.

I put this cost on my Chase Sapphire Reserve®, which I exploit for many of my airfare purchases due to its superior journey protections; plus, I earn 3 factors per greenback spent on the journey buy. In hindsight, I ought to have put it on The Platinum Card® from American Specific to earn the next 5 factors per greenback spent as I already had journey safety from my unique buy.

My coworker, senior resorts reporter Cameron Sperance, was flying from Boston and joined me for the second section. He, too, obtained the premium economic system improve provide, for which he paid 25,000 Delta SkyMiles. (He booked his ticket by way of Delta, which implies he might redeem SkyMiles for his improve.) In response to TPG’s December 2024 valuations, his 25,000 SkyMiles had been price $300, which implies he paid 21% lower than I did.

Verify-in and boarding

My journey began at SFO, the place I checked in utilizing the Sky Precedence lane; I had entry since considered one of my two flights was in premium economic system. The method was fast. It took lower than 5 minutes to confirm my passport, test my bag and obtain my boarding passes.

Had I flown in economic system class the entire method, I might’ve had to make use of one of many self-service kiosks if I solely had a carry-on; with my checked bag, I might have needed to wait within the lengthy line you’ll be able to see within the background of the photograph above.

On my first flight, I boarded in Zone 5 with the opposite economic system class passengers, and on my second flight, I boarded in Zone 2 with the premium economic system cohort.

Seats in KLM economic system vs. premium economic system

I flew on Boeing 777s on each segments, on the -300ER variant on the primary leg after which the smaller -200ER on the second leg. The 2 plane have the identical seat configurations in premium economic system and coach:

• Economic system: 10 seats throughout in a decent 3-4-3 format
• Premium economic system: eight seats throughout in a extra snug 2-4-2 format

My economic system seat on the primary flight was slim and solely had skinny padding. It had a 31-inch pitch — much like what you discover on home flights within the U.S. KLM’s extra-legroom Economic system Consolation seats have 35 inches of pitch.

On my second flight, I discovered the premium economic system seat to be very snug. It had a beneficiant 38 inches of pitch, which tends to be simply round the usual airways provide on this cabin.

The 5-inch recline in economic system was what I’ve skilled on most different carriers, however you may get 60% extra (a complete of 8 inches) in premium economic system. It makes a giant distinction, particularly with the extra snug cushioning of the premium economic system seat.

Associated: Our full evaluate of KLM premium economic system

On one hand, I used to be grateful the primary flight was fairly empty, so I used to be capable of lie throughout a row of 4 seats within the middle; alternatively, there have been infants seated near me on both aspect (nearer to the home windows), and I didn’t sleep very nicely.

I arrived in Amsterdam exhausted and pressured; I ran from my arrival gate to the departure gate, as my layover was solely simply over an hour. For sure, although I used to be assigned a center seat for the second flight, I received three hours of sleep and was extraordinarily grateful for the improved consolation of the premium economic system seat.

KLM premium economic system options customary seats that recline into the next row. I a lot want the newer-generation fixed-shell seats that you will discover on airways like Japan Airways, Air France and China Airways the place the seatback kind of simply slides down with out encroaching on one other row.

Whereas KLM’s economic system and premium economic system seats have HD touchscreen leisure techniques, the premium economic system one is 21% bigger (13.3 versus 11 inches).

There’s additionally a noticeable distinction within the measurement and stability of the tray tables. The premium economic system desk can match a 16-inch laptop computer, whereas the economic system class one maxes out with a 13-inch one.

Each seats had extremely adjustable headrests, with the premium economic system one providing extra padding.

The meals in KLM economic system vs. premium economic system

I am glad I ate lunch within the (not too long ago renovated and spectacular) Air France-KLM Lounge at SFO as a result of the onboard choices on my first flight had been fairly meager. They did embody parts of contemporary fruit and veggies, although.

The second flight was definitely a step up, primarily for the beneficiant drink servings and among the finest meals I’ve had inflight — a scrumptious and light-weight however filling salmon poke bowl with edamame, ginger and rice. It was dinner to have earlier than touchdown in Cape City and heading to mattress.

I additionally appreciated the printed menu ready for premium economic system passengers at their seats.

Midway by way of the second flight, premium economic system and economic system passengers had been served the identical cheese sandwich, and the primary meal’s dessert was additionally the identical ice cream.

Facilities in KLM economic system vs. premium economic system

In economic system, I received a skinny, scratchy pillow, whereas in premium economic system, it was bigger and extra plush.

The blanket in economic system was additionally extra like a light-weight throw. Premium economic system passengers received a thick, snug blanket that was heat however breathable, making it simple to sleep beneath.

Economic system class passengers get flimsy disposable earbuds, whereas premium economic system passengers obtain respectable noise-canceling headphones.

It is price mentioning that each one passengers have the identical inflight leisure choices by way of films and TV exhibits, albeit on different-size screens.

Service in KLM economic system vs. premium economic system

Premium economic system passengers get an amenity package within the type of a reusable tote with earplugs, an eye fixed masks, a bamboo toothbrush, toothpaste tablets and a pen. Economic system passengers don’t obtain these, although, so you’ll want to pack your toothbrush.

There was no noticeable distinction in service between the 2 cabins.

I did have a irritating subject with my headphone jack not engaged on my second flight for 90 minutes. Finally, the purser got here to handle the difficulty, first providing to change my seat with that of a non-revenue passenger in my row. I refused as I did not wish to disturb the opposite passenger. I might use my AirPods and iPad to benefit from the content material I would downloaded as a backup.

The purser ended up providing me 70 euros ($74) or 15,000 Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles to make up for it. I took the miles, as they had been price $195, in accordance with TPG’s December 2024 valuations — almost triple the money quantity provided.

The method of claiming my miles was simple, because the purser famous down my electronic mail deal with. Two days later, the miles appeared in my account. I redeemed them (nicely, all however 500 of them — together with $76 in taxes) for a one-way economy-class award ticket on Aerolineas Argentinas from Buenos Aires to Santa Cruz, Bolivia, as a part of a South America journey I am taking subsequent yr.

Backside line

After a poor night time’s sleep on my flight from the U.S. to Amsterdam, I used to be relieved to have a extra snug seat for the second leg of my journey to South Africa.

Taking that earlier flight out of the equation, although, at what worth would I like to recommend upgrading to premium economic system? I would say that paying as much as $40 per flight hour is cheap, at the very least for my price range and journey preferences. I ended up paying $35 per flight hour for this improve — and I used to be so grateful I did. If the improve price over $450, I might have began to hesitate.

As some extent of comparability, I flew Condor premium economic system again from South Africa. That is extra like an extra-legroom economic system seat with extra recline fairly than a wholly separate product.

That is why it is necessary to do your analysis since what’s marketed as premium economic system can fluctuate a lot from airline to airline. For the Condor flight, my advice could be to pay as much as $15 per flight hour to improve, lower than half of what I would pay for KLM’s extra basic premium economic system providing.

Associated: How you can improve from economic system to premium economic system with out breaking the financial institution

If you wish to maximize your sleep in a snug seat with a luxurious blanket, take pleasure in precedence check-in and boarding, watch a film on a bigger leisure display screen and dig into superior meals choices — for an affordable improve price — then it is price it.

If you end up with an economic system class ticket on KLM and may improve to premium economic system for as much as $40 per flight hour, I would say go for it.